Welcome to the Rainbow Community School Blog!

RCS News and Updates

We are so excited to share with you everything that makes Rainbow such a unique blend of holistic education, academic excellence, social responsibility, and integrated community. Here you can find our reflections on the seven domains, our opinions on mindfulness in schools, our upcoming events, and how we’re revolutionizing education from the inside out. Explore the posts below to get a sense of what being part of the Rainbow community is all about.

Kaleidoscope January, 2019 From the age of six to fourteen I took violin lessons but had no luck with my teachers, for whom music did not transcend mechanical practicing. I really began to learn only after I had fallen in love with Mozart’s sonatas. The attempt to...

Kaleidoscope, October 2018 I wrote this Kaleidoscope before we had another national tragedy occur: The Tree of Life Synagogue massacre. It is with a broken heart that I add this “introduction” to Kaleidoscope. Collaborative for Spirituality in Education As I write, I...

In 2012 Rainbow Community School (RCS) was selected as an Ashoka Changemaker School, a network of schools that empower students as changemakers by prioritizing empathy, leadership, and collaborative problem-solving as student outcomes. They recognize the capacities of...

Connection and community at Rainbow is often nurtured through rituals, traditions or celebrations that mark the passage of time. We begin the school year with an opening ceremony during which the entire school comes together to offer blessings and intentions for the...

What's in a mission? This school year I will be writing a series for Heart of the Matter based on our board Ends Policies. Ends Policies are written by the board as the guiding light for our school. They point the way toward who we want to be and where we want to go....

This month's team highlight: Tracy Hildebrand We'd like to introduce you to Tracy, Rainbow Community School's art teacher. We found her in the art room and asked if she'd agree to answer questions for a team highlight. She has some fun answers to our questions. We...

Opening the Heart – Reflection and Centering At a recent admin meeting, Cynthia shared a centering designed to bring awareness to, and open the heart. Renee asked her to share it on the Director's Blog for others to enjoy, as well. Point to yourself Take a moment to...

First Grade Studies Beautiful Trees We stepped into first grade recently, into a veritable classroom forest. There were displays of books about trees, nature artifacts that reminded us of our natural roots, and artwork that featured patched trees and their individual...

As we gear up for the school year, we thought it would be fun to highlight one of the first faces you'll see on campus: Kate Chassner! She is Rainbow's Office Manager. She seemingly knows the answers to everything. Need keys? She's got 'em. Need to know the schedule?...

Freedom and Creativity Summer is a time when folks often invite freedom and creativity back into their busy lives. Maybe they pick up a project that has taken a back seat, take a workshop, or reconnect with a lost skill, art or craft. Maybe they learn, read, or try...

Rites of passage are important, sacred ceremonies that highlight a transitional period in a person’s life. In many cultures, tribes and soceities around the world, children engage in various rites of passage. Often these are times when a child is recognized...

For this team highlight feature, we wanted to share about our "Custodial Ninja" as he calls himself: Peter, or Wind Motika. We asked him some interview questions and the responses are pretty awesome. Next time you see Wind, be sure to give him some gratitude for all...

The integrated RCS curriculum fosters learning in a holistic way. This approach is void of the restrictions often imposed by teaching discreet subjects. Purposeful integration acknowledges, builds on and reinforces the existing relationships between subject...

Rainbow Community School had a special guest this week! Best-selling author and Ph.D., Lisa Miller, toured our school. Lisa authored The Spiritual Child and is also the head of clinical psychology at Columbia University Teachers College. She has conducted and compiled...

Jenny Armocida - Team Highlight There are some incredible things going on in 6th grade right now. Students are preparing to present on their businesses they created as part of our Rainbow Marketplace on April 27. Recently, 6th had Peace Awards Ceremonies,...